Sweet Land (2005)

Set in 1920, Inge travels from Germany to rural Minnesota meet the man destined to be her husband. Bureaucracy and social morality cause major complications.

Director:

Ali Selim

Writers:

Will Weaver (short story "A Gravestone Made of Wheat"), Ali Selim

Stars:

Elizabeth Reaser, Lois Smith, Patrick Heusinger

6 wins & 2 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Elizabeth Reaser	...	Young Inge
Lois Smith	...	Old Inge
Patrick Heusinger	...	Young Lars
Stephen Pelinski	...	Old Lars
Tim Guinee	...	Young Olaf
Robert Hogan	...	Old Olaf
Alan Cumming	...	Young Frandsen
Paul Sand	...	Old Frandsen
Jodie Markell	...	Donna Torvik
Sage Kermes	...	Mae Torvik
Kirsten Frantzich	...	Lee
Stephen Yoakam	...	Einar Torvik
Karen Landry	...	Rose Torvik
James Cada	...	Minister Thorwald
Debbie DeLisi	...	Sarah Torvik

Storyline

As Inge buries her husband Olaf on their Minnesota farm in 1968, we relive her life story as she tells her grown grandson about how she arrived from Germany in 1920 as Olaf's postal bride and of the obstacles they overcame in order to marry...

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Plot Keywords:

minnesota | 1920s | farm | morality | bicycle | 

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Taglines:

A love story

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Genres:

Drama | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG for brief partial nudity and mild language

Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

USA

Language:

English German Norwegian

Release Date:

31 July 2008 (Brazil)

Also Known As:

Wedding Photo

Filming Locations:

Dawson, Minnesota, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$1,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$41,860 (USA) (13 October 2006)

Gross:

$1,706,325 (USA) (6 July 2007)

Company Credits

Production Co:

120dB Films, Beautiful Motion Pictures LLC, Channel Z Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

110 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Most of the Norwegian and German was not scripted, but made up by the actors during filming and is gibberish.

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Goofs

Corn plants shown in the film were spaced only inches apart. In the 1920's each plant was spaced much further apart. Horse drawn planters used "planting chains" anchored at ends of each row so the distance between each row would equal the distance between each plant.

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Quotes

Harmo: I can help you out.
Young Olaf: With our mortgage?
Harmo: Sure.
Young Olaf: Banking and farming don't mix.

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Connections

References The Godfather (1972)

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Soundtracks

"Quiet Breathing"
Music and Lyrics by Mark Orton, Thomas Lieberman (as T.F. Lieberman) and Haley Bonar
Published by Camp Watertown Music/Liza Rose Music
Quiet Breathing, LP (ASCAP)
Performed by Haley Bonar

User Reviews

Excellent film from a new talent in Hollywood, Hurray!

This film is marvelous, I was able to have a sneak peak as a student here at the U of M because my teacher (Tom Pope) actually aided in the screenplay of this wonderful debut. Avoiding all the clichés of a typical Hollywood romance, this one doesn't go strait for the tear ducts but if it doesn't warm those puppies up by the end than you're a heartless person. Excellent cast, story and directing, I cannot wait till this is out there for the public. There was a Q&A afterward with the director (Ali) and the producers, and it was so interesting to hear and see their processes in their own words, wonderful men who deserve all the success in the world with this film, a great movie for all ages, truly original and moving.